Agaricaceae 



Armiiiaria. Stems may be even as a lead pencil, or swollen like a pen-holder, or 

 bulbous toward the base, or distorted by pressure in the tufts. It is as 

 variable in color as the cap, usually darkening downward in hues of 

 brown. The outside is firm and fibrous, sometimes furrowed, inside 

 soft or hollow. 



Cap 1-6 in. across. Stem 1-6 in. long, %-% in. thick. 



Var. obscu'ra has the cap covered with numerous small blackish scales. 



Var. flava has the cap yellow or reddish-yellow, but in other respects 

 it is like the type. 



Var. glabra has the cap smooth, otherwise like the type. 



Var. radica'ta has a tapering, root-like prolongation of the stem, 

 which penetrates the earth deeply. 



Var. bulbd ' sa has a distinctly bulbous base to the stem, and in this 

 respect is the reverse of var. radicata. 



Professor Peck writes: "Var. exannulata (Plate XVI, fig. 2, p. 52) 

 has the cap smooth and even on the margin, and the stem tapering at 

 the base. The annulus is very slight and evanescent or wholly wanting. 

 The cap is usually about an inch broad, or a little more, and the plants 

 grow in clusters, which sometimes contain forty or fifty individuals. It 

 is more common farther south than it is in our state (N. Y.), and is 

 reported to be the most common form in Maryland. This I call var. 

 exannulata." From Dr. Taylor, Washington, D. C. ; Indiana, H. I. 

 Miller. 



To these may be added also var. al'bida Pk. in which the pileus is 

 white or whitish. 



A variety, perhaps a variation of var. bulbosa was sent to me by E. 

 B. Sterling, Trenton, N. J., and afterward found by myself at Mt. 

 Gretna, Pa. The Cap purplish-brown, convex, striate and light on 

 margin, edge irregular with parts of veil attached. Flesh white, very 

 thin. Gills decurrent, arcuate, pinkish-gray. Stem stuffed, fibrous, white 

 above, dense floccose veil, same color as cap below, swollen toward 

 base which is pointed, sulcate, white inside, closely clustered and some of 

 the stems distinctly bulbous. Taste decidedly unpleasant. An intense 

 acridity develops and increases when the juices of raw pieces are swal- 

 lowed, and the salivary glands are much excited. The acridity is not 

 lost in cooking. It simply can not be eaten. Specimens were sent by 

 me to Professor Peck who referred it to A. mellea. 



I have never seen the abortive form of Clitopilus abortivus, though 



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